A conceptual artist based in Miami, Bert Rodriguez explores the boundary between the obvious and the sublime. Rodriguez, 32, is one of 81 artists currently exhibiting their work at the 2008 Whitney Biennial at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City. His installation In the Beginning is a performance piece - a large white minimalist box, into which he invites visitors for therapy sessions. Named The Miami Times News best local artist in 2006, Rodriguez showed his work for two consecutive years at Miami's Art Basel and received a $15,000 grant to complete a photo installation on the exterior of The Miami Herald building. Rodriguez graduated with a BFA from the University of Florida in 1998.